Experienced Henrico VA DUI Lawyer

experienced henrico dui lawyers know how to present your best defense to the henrico courtsRiley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law is a Top Rated local Henrico County law firm with over 45 years of collective DUI law experience. Our skilled and experienced Henrico County VA DUI Lawyers are dedicated to representing the best interests of clients. We use every resource the law allows to best protect our client. NOTE: A DUI arrest is NOT a DUI conviction. We are committed to thoroughly investigating and preparing each case to ensure that the best defense is presented.

DUI Defense Specialists

nationally recognized henrico county dui lawyers with experience can present your best caseWe understand that an arrest for drunk driving can be an embarrassing and devastating event. Our role is to assist you with navigating an often difficult landscape and to present your best defense, not lecture you about decisions you made leading up to the arrest. The simple fact is you are in trouble with the law and you need a non-judgmental advocate to give you straight forward legal advice and quality representation.

Effective Henrico DUI Lawyer in Henrico County

A Best Law Firm for Virginia Criminal Law and Traffic Defense Virginia DUI law is complex. And the penalties can be harsh. In fact, Virginia has some of the strictest DUI laws in the country according to a study by WalletHub.  If you have been arrested for DUI in Henrico County, then you need to retain the best Henrico County DUI lawyer possible. Our attorneys are specially trained and possess extensive experience. We can help. Let us review your case!

Virginia DUI Breath Testing

Henrico County Breath Tests are administered by Henrico VA police officers in cases of DUI arrestsVirginia DUI law according to Va. Code Section 18.2-266 criminalizes the operation of a motor vehicle if a chemical test proves the driver possesses a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more at the time of driving. It is also a violation of the DUI law for a motorist to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of illegal drugs or prescription medication. Breath Test evidence is significant to the prosecution’s DUI case but it is not required.

Law Enforcement DUI Investigation Field Sobriety Testing

Henrico County VA police officers investigating DUI cases will attempt to have the motorist perform field sobriety exercises but these exercises are optionalIf a Henrico County police officer stops a motorist for a traffic violation and suspects that the motorist may be intoxicated, then the police officer will transition the traffic stop into a DUI investigation. Every motorist who becomes the target of a Henrico police DUI investigation will typically be asked to perform field sobriety exercises. These exercises or tests are completely VOLUNTARY.  A motorist is never required to perform any field sobriety exercise.

NOTE: There is almost no scenario where a motorist should perform these tests

Drunk Driving is Aggressively Enforced in Henrico County

henrico dui lawyer virginia trial attorenyThe drunk driving laws are aggressively enforced by Henrico Police and Virginia State Troopers. The state troopers usually patrol the Interstates and Henrico police officers typically focus their patrols on major routes such Broad Street, Brook Road, Mechanicsville Turnpike, Staples Mill Road & Williamsburg Road. Both police departments will frequently hold sobriety checkpoints and typically use the same protocol to investigate a DUI case, which will often include field sobriety testing and breath testing.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol Penalties

  • Possible incarceration
  • Ignition Interlock
  • Suspension or Revocation of Driving Privileges
  • Expensive fines
  • Probation
  • DUI education courses such as VASAP
  • Significant cost increases to or loss of automobile insurance
  • Loss of employment or employment opportunities

Henrico County DUI Client Review

amanda smith google plus five star review for riley & wells attorneys at law richmond va

Henrico DUI Case DISMISSED

A motorist will be placed in handcuffs and arrested for DUI if a Henrico Police Officer gathers evidence of probable cause that the motorist is intoxicated.Our Henrico County DUI Lawyers successfully defended a client who was accused of DUI after being pulled over for a speeding infraction on the Willey Bridge in the western part of the county. A DUI arrest can be a traumatic event and the process from traffic stop to verdict can be a maze of criminal & traffic law procedures. In this case, we take the opportunity to explain each aspect of the case in detail. Click here for full case review

Henrico VA Criminal DUI Case REDUCED to Minor Traffic Infraction

Henrico County DUI REDUCED to minor traffic infraction

Our Henrico DUI Defense Attorneys represented a client who was accused of DUI after being pulled over on Interstate 64 in the Short Pump area of the county for Texting While Driving. Our client completely cooperated with the investigating police officer. After our review of the case, we made a determination that the prosecution’s case was not particularly strong. We were prepared for trial and looking forward to having the matter dismissed. However, every trial brings a certain amount of risk that some clients cannot endure. We convinced the prosecution that they may lose the case, which helped in resolving the matter as a minor traffic infraction of improper driving.

Henrico Felony DUI 4th REDUCED to 1st Offense Related cases Nolle Prosequi

A felony DUI case is a very serious offense. A conviction can trigger significant penalties.

Henrico County Felony DUI 4th REDUCED to Misdemeanor 1st Offense

Riley & Wells Attorneys-At-Law represented a client who was arrested for 4th offense felony DUI within 10 years, felony Drive on a Revoked Driver’s License & criminal Refusal third offense. The client was clearly facing serious allegations and was looking at probably more than a year in prison if convicted of the allegations. We thoroughly reviewed the case and found a possible defense to the lawfulness of the traffic stop. The U.S. Constitution Fourth amendment says, among other things, that a stop or seizure by a policeman must be based on what is called “reasonable articulable suspicion.” In other words, a police officer cannot infringe on your liberty and pull you over merely based on a hunch or suspicion. In this case, the police were responding to a loud noise call at a residence.

Drunk driving in Henrico County is seriously enforced. If you have been arrested for DUI, then you need a Henrico DUI Lawyer.

Henrico County Felony Driving Revoked Nolle Prosequi

Our client was driving in an area near a noise complaint. The police suspected that our client was somehow related to the noise complaint. We advised our client of the issues and defenses to the allegations. In addition to proving the lawfulness of the traffic stop, the prosecution would have to prove several other legal factors, including: intoxication, unreasonable refusal and prior convictions that elevated both the DUI and Driving While Revoked allegations to felonies. Our attorneys approached the Commonwealth Attorney with strong defenses. The prosecutor agreed with the defenses and was willing to significantly drop the case in exchange for a plea. Our client weighed his options and elected to accept the plea.

Virginia DUI Penalties (⇓DMV DUI Brochure⇓)

Conviction for DUI first offense  Mandatory, minimum $250 fine  Driver’s license revocation for one year Conviction for DUI second offense  Mandatory, minimum $500 fine  Driver’s license revocation for three years  Possible jail term up to one year Conviction for DUI second offense within ten years of prior offense carries the following additional penalty  Mandatory, minimum ten-day jail term Conviction for DUI second offense within five years of prior offense carries the following additional penalty  Mandatory, minimum 20-day jail term Three DUI convictions within a ten-year period  Mandatory, indefinite driver’s license revocation  If your driving privilege is revoked for a first or second DUI offense conviction and you receive another DUI, the license revocation period will run consecutively with the existing revocation period. Conviction for DUI third offense or DWI felony  Mandatory, minimum $1,000 fine  Mandatory indefinite driver’s license revocation  Prosecution as a Class 6 felony Conviction for DUI third offense within five years carries the following additional penalty  Mandatory, minimum six-month jail term Conviction for DUI third offense within ten years carries the following additional penalty  Mandatory, minimum 90-day jail term  Permanent forfeiture of your vehicle (if you are the sole owner) Conviction for DUI fourth or subsequent offense  Mandatory, minimum one-year jail term BAC of 0.15% and not higher than 0.20% at the time of arrest  First offense carries a mandatory, minimum five-day jail term in addition to all other penalties  Second offense within ten years carries a mandatory, minimum ten-day jail term in addition to all other penalties BAC of 0.20% or higher at the time of arrest  First offense carries a mandatory, minimum ten-day jail term in addition to all other penalties

Let us review YOUR case. We can help!

11/10/2015 | Updated 5/4/2021